MATILDA
US, 1978, 105 minutes, Colour.
Elliott Gould, Robert Mitchum, Harry Guardino, Clive Revill, Lionel Stander, Karen Carlson.
Directed by Daniel Mann.
Matilda is a family film - though one wonders for what audience. With Elliott Gould and Robert Mitchum as the stars, it has a certain appeal to adults. The whimsical tone and the background satire of gangsters and boxing also indicate an older audience. However, the story told, the focus on Matilda as a successful boxing kangaroo and his exploits seem to indicate the film as more suitable for younger audiences.
The drawback of the film is the not having a genuine kangaroo as Matilda, but an actor dressed up as a kangaroo. It seems to undermine the credibility - especially when the emphasis is on a genuine kangaroo as having boxing skills. Elliott Gould does his usual frantic routines as a hustling entrepreneur. Robert Mitchum is very dignified as the boxing newspaper correspondent. Clive Revill has an engaging role as Billy Baker, the manager of Matilda. With the American settings, an introductory song sung by Pat and Debbie Boone, the slapstick American humour and the emphasis on the animal, the film seems to be the typical American ingredients family comedy. Direction is by Daniel Mann who directed such Oscar-winning performances as Shirley Booth in Come Back Little Sheba, Anna Magnani in The Rose Tattoo. He seems to be having time off for recreation with this film.
1. The appeal of the film. its entertainment value, for an adult audience, family, children? For Americans? Australians ? with the emphasis on Matilda the kangaroo?
2. The New York opening, the atmosphere of America, a cross-section of cities and landscapes, from New York to Reno? The opening song and its tone? Colour photography?
3. Realism and fantasy, in the story, the character of Matilda? The effect of the productions not using a real kangaroo? The various types, the managers, hustlers, Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the gangsters, newspaper writers? How well did they blend?
4. The initial focus on Billy, his invitation to the audience, the telling of the story, a genial man, his boxing history, arrival in America, the accident in the streets with Matilda, the encounter with Bernie, releasing the animal, Kathleen and her wanting to prevent Matilda’s fighting, following the fights around the countryside after the carnival knockout, Billy's trust in Bernie, his capacity for handling Matilda, his fears for the fight at the end? His success and the telling of the story ? meeting Bernie and his family? Engaging the audience via this kind of direct talk and storytelling?
5. Matilda seen with Bernie? The appearance, animal manners, the human being under the kangaroo makeup? The feminine name and the boxing ability? The origins in Australia, the explanations about kangaroos and boxing? The accident, in the taxi, the knocking out of the champion at the carnival? Bernie's signing him up? The career throughout the countryside? The collage of knockout fights? The training in Nevada? The build up to the final fight? The sympathy of the audience, the change to the champion? Matilda being hit and retiring? Producing boxing sons? Matilda as an engaging character for family entertainment?
6. Bernie and Elliott Gould's hustling style, Pinky and the agency, the boxing and the gangsters? Taking advantage of opportunity, hustling up contracts, getting Duke Parkhurst to be at the carnival, the champ? The knockout? The clash with Kathleen and the joke about the shoes? Promoting Matilda’s career? The blockage in California? The intrusion on the TV show and the advertising? The build up to the fight? His discovery that he was being used by Duke and his willingness to go along with this? The throwing in the towel? The losing of Matilda but gaining a family?
7. Duke and Robert Mitchum's style? His work on the paper, his wanting to expose the gangsters, his amazement at the carnival, his betting at the fight? His hold over Bernie?
8. The incidental characters - Pinky and his agency, his ridiculing of Bernie, his being in league with the gangsters? Uncle Nono and his gang of gangsters, their meetings, the knockabout humour in their attempts to get Matilda? Uncle Nono and his desperation? The final bet, his retiring from the United States and breeding kangaroos?
9. Gordon and his driving of the taxi, his arranging with Duke, his partnership, his contribution to the atmosphere of comedy?
10. Kathleen and her work for the animals, the clashes with Bernie, the fascination, her brother, the happy finale with the family?
11.The various supporting characters - the champ and his fighting with Matilda after such preparations, Tanya and her luring him into it, her career? P.S.: Michael Willesee can be seen briefly at the Reno fight as the commentator.
